Healing and Recovering

It has been 1 week since being diagnosed with a stress fracture and 2.5 weeks since the injury occurred.  It is feeling better!  Movements that were bothering/hurting the first week don’t hurt anymore.   SHHHH … Don’t tell my coach, Pat or the Doc but, I really think I could try running……..  Don’t worry Matt, Pat and Doc…. I will obey orders and refrain from running. :)

I have found that I love pool running!  I can’t get enough of it.  If I could stay in the water without turning into a prune I think I would do it all day long!  :)  Some people have said it is boring and monotonous but, I have not had that problem at all.  Maybe it’s because I really need a good workout and pool running gives it to me right now – it gets my heart rate up and I just have fun while doing it.  The pool has aquajoggers which are flotation belts that I put around my waist, and then I mimic a running motion in the water (straight back, high knees).  I have been going back and forth width-wise in the pool but, I just found the bungee cord today.  I am going to try that next time – it lets me tether myself to the wall which supposedly will give me a better workout.  Looking forward to trying it. :)

I have only biked one time in the past week.  The pressure on the fracture when sitting on the seat isn’t hurting as much as it did during the previous 2 weeks.  But, I only biked 25 miles so not too long in the saddle.  I did feel the groin area though – not pain but, mostly fatigue is the way I would describe it.  We are going to try lowering my seat just a little bit which will put me in a more upright position and see if that helps any.  Other ideas are to raise my handlebars. 

I have also been walking.  The first couple walks last week were slow and easy.  I didn’t want to stress that area too much.  Today I felt really good and was able to walk at a brisk pace – about 3 miles before the groin area started feeling fatigued.  I am trying to pay close attention to this “fatigue vs. pain” feeling and want to stop activity before it gets to ‘pain’.

Activities keeping me occupied right now:
Walking, pool running, swimming, biking, blogging, yoga, strength/core workouts, reading.

I am really happy that this seems to be healing.
 

Tried living in denial but, reality set in…

Ok, I got some bad news yesterday evening.  I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my pelvis.  Treatment is “eliminate all pain-generating activity”.  It will take at least 4 weeks to heal.  I first noticed the pain after my Spring Meadow race in Helena.  I saw the Dr. Monday and had an MRI yesterday.

Stress fracture is where the arrow is pointing

I had a feeling it was a stress fracture.  I got a stress fracture in my femoral neck a few years ago when training for a Half Marathon, so I know what that pain feels like and this pain in my pelvis is very similar.  I tried to ignore it for a couple days (that’s a pattern with me – deny there is a problem and maybe it will go away).

So last night was tough emotionally.  I was sick to my stomach, had a number of good cries and was also trying to figure out if continuing on with IM training for this year is realistic.

I talked with my coach today – He is AWESOME!  I went into the discussion wondering if I should even be thinking about continuing training for Louisville.  I never even asked the question… he just started talking about what we are going to do, how we can continue training through this injury.  There was not even any discussion about whether it’s possible.  I left his house with a smile, a belief that it still is possible, and feeling extremely happy!

Right now, I’m not sure what activities I can do...

1.  No running
2. I’m not sure about hiking
3.  Maybe biking (the seat kind of puts pressure on that fractured area) but it doesn’t hurt to pedal so not sure about the bike yet.  I will probably be doing a lot of rides on my trainer to lessen the impact/jarring that is felt from riding outside.
4.  Swimming is ok
5.  Pool running is ok
6.  Strength exercises – upper body ok, and maybe some lower body (lunges are out).  Need to visit a PT to determine which exercises are safe to do.
7. Easy walking ok (not sure about brisk walking yet, need to try it)

At this point I will just have to try some things to see what causes pain and what is ok to do.  I am determined to keep working toward Louisville.  Healing takes precedence but, I will do whatever I can over the next month to stay in fighting shape.   I am not ready to quit and will continue to re-evaluate chances for a successful IM over the next few weeks.  I have had some good cries and I am disappointed but, now I am ready to move forward!